West Mich. Teacher Charged After Sex Abuse Probe

GRAND RAPIDS (AP) – A West Michigan teacher has been charged with four counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct after a police investigation into reports of inappropriate contact involving several male students.

The Kent County prosecutor’s office authorized the charges Wednesday against the Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy teacher, according to Grand Rapids police.

Authorities are coordinating her arrest with the teacher’s attorney. Her name was not released.

A 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy told police Monday they had inappropriate contact with the teacher at multiple locations in the city between March 1 and June 1.

The teacher has been removed from the classroom and placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the police investigation, the Grand Rapids Public Schools said in a letter to parents.

The district said it contacted police Monday afternoon after several parents came forward with their children to file complaints about the teacher.

“Please know that we have zero tolerance for this type of alleged behavior and will work closely with (police and prosecutors) on the investigation,” schools Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal wrote in the letter to parents. “If the allegations are found to be true, we will work to ensure justice is served to the fullest extent of the law.”